After nearly eight years, with the business performing strongly, this feels like the right time.
After nearly eight years guiding One New Zealand through ownership changes, a major rebrand, and a wave of technological firsts, Jason Paris is stepping down as chief executive — a departure he describes as instinct meeting the right moment. The board has turned to CFO Nick Judd, whose long career at Air New Zealand and Tourism Holdings brings a complementary blend of commercial and strategic depth. The handover arrives not in crisis but in consolidation, as the company stands on ground it has spent years building — independent, innovative, and oriented toward an AI-enabled future.
- Eight years of structural reinvention — from Vodafone subsidiary to standalone brand — now reach a natural inflection point as the architect of that transformation chooses to step away.
- The departure creates a leadership vacuum at a company still riding the momentum of its 2022 rebrand and a string of industry firsts, including the world's first nationwide satellite-to-mobile service.
- The board moves swiftly and internally, elevating CFO Nick Judd rather than searching externally — a signal of confidence in continuity over disruption.
- Judd brings over fifteen years of Air New Zealand experience across strategy, sales, and international operations, positioning him as a commercially grounded steward for the next competitive chapter.
- One New Zealand enters this transition from a position of strength, with shareholder returns up, cash generation growing, and an AI-enabled telecommunications identity already in motion.
Jason Paris is leaving the chief executive role at One New Zealand after nearly eight years — a tenure that carried the company from its Vodafone origins through a $3.4 billion ownership change and, ultimately, a full rebrand in 2022 that gave it a standalone identity. He described the timing as instinctive: the business is performing well, the strategic direction is clear, and the moment felt right. CFO Nick Judd has been named his successor.
Board chairperson Phillippa Harford credited Paris with navigating the company through its most consequential structural shifts, highlighting milestones such as launching the world's first nationwide satellite-to-mobile service and building a reputation as one of the most AI-enabled telecommunications operators globally. Strong shareholder returns and growing cash generation rounded out the legacy she described.
Judd comes to the role with a different but complementary background — more than fifteen years at Air New Zealand spanning strategy, sales, and international growth, alongside prior CFO experience at Tourism Holdings. The board characterised him as an executive with broad enterprise capability and particular strength in commercial leadership.
Paris called the role the privilege of his career and said he would miss the daily work alongside his team. He plans to take a break before deciding what comes next. Judd, meanwhile, inherits a company with clear direction and operational momentum, stepping into leadership as One New Zealand continues to compete in an increasingly technology-driven market.
Jason Paris is stepping away from the chief executive chair at One New Zealand after nearly eight years, a tenure that reshaped the company from its Vodafone roots into an independent telecommunications operator with a distinct identity. The board has named Nick Judd, the company's chief financial officer, as his successor.
Paris described the moment as one where instinct and circumstance aligned. "It feels like the right time," he said, acknowledging that no departure is ever perfectly timed but that the business is performing strongly and the strategic direction is set. He leaves behind a company that has moved through significant structural change—the 2019 sale to infrastructure investor Infratil and Canadian firm Brookfield Asset Management for $3.4 billion, followed by the 2022 rebrand that severed the Vodafone name and created One New Zealand as a standalone brand.
Board chairperson Phillippa Harford credited Paris with steering the company through that separation and transformation. Under his watch, One New Zealand earned recognition for innovation and customer focus, she said, pointing to achievements like launching the world's first nationwide satellite-to-mobile service and positioning the company as one of the globe's most AI-enabled telecommunications operators. The company has also delivered what Harford described as strong shareholder returns and increased cash generation during his tenure.
Judd arrives with a different career arc but complementary experience. Before joining One New Zealand as CFO, he spent more than fifteen years at Air New Zealand in roles spanning strategy, sales, and growth, working across both domestic and international operations. He also served as chief financial officer at Tourism Holdings. The board characterized him as a well-rounded executive with enterprise leadership capability grounded in commercial acumen, with particular strength across strategy, operations, sales, and commercial functions.
Paris spoke warmly of the people he worked with, calling the role "the privilege of my career" and saying he would miss the daily collaboration with his team. He indicated he plans to take a break before pursuing his next opportunity, though he hasn't yet determined what that will be. His tone suggested openness to what comes next rather than a predetermined path.
The transition occurs at a moment when One New Zealand is consolidating gains from its rebrand and innovation investments. Judd inherits a business with clear strategic direction and operational momentum, stepping into leadership as the company continues its positioning in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven telecommunications landscape.
Citações Notáveis
The people here are simply extraordinary, and I'll miss working alongside them every day. After nearly eight years, with the business performing strongly and our strategy firmly in place, this feels like the right time.— Jason Paris, outgoing CEO
Jason successfully guided the company through separation from Vodafone Group ownership and helped create One New Zealand, a proud Kiwi brand with a clear sense of purpose.— Phillippa Harford, board chairperson
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
What made Paris decide now was the moment to leave?
He said the business is performing strongly and the strategy is firmly in place. After eight years, he'd guided the company through its biggest structural change—the separation from Vodafone and the rebrand. There's a natural point where you've accomplished what you set out to do.
Did he leave anything unfinished?
Not that he indicated. The satellite-to-mobile service is launched, the AI positioning is underway. He's handing off a company that's generating cash and delivering shareholder returns. The board clearly felt the foundations were solid enough for a transition.
What's different about Judd's background?
He's more of an operations and strategy person than a visionary. Fifteen years at Air New Zealand, then Tourism Holdings. He knows how to run complex businesses, manage growth, optimize commercial performance. Where Paris was the architect of transformation, Judd is the executor.
Is that a risk?
It depends on what One New Zealand needs next. If it's consolidation and optimization, Judd's profile makes sense. If the company needs another round of radical innovation, that's a different question. But the board clearly believes the strategy is set and now it's about execution.
What does Paris do now?
He said he's taking a break and doesn't know what's next. That's honest. After eight years at the top of a major telecom company, you don't immediately know what excites you anymore.